Marysville growing; crime in city isn’t

Published 9:53 pm Tuesday, March 10, 2009

MARYSVILLE — Crime in Marysville dropped in 2008 despite the city’s rapid growth.

Since 2005, Marysville’s population has increased about 25 percent — or 7,000 people — as a result of annexations and development.

At the same time, statistics show the city’s crime rate in 2008 slipped back to levels last seen before the growth, police chief Richard Smith said.

The decline is a result of taking a proactive police approach, analyzing crime trends and filling officer vacancies, officials said.

City leaders also give credit to Smith, 46, who last week marked his second year as police chief in Marysville.

“He looked at what the city was doing and what we needed to do,” city administrator Mary Swenson said. “He really has served the city well.”

Violent crimes in 2008 fell by nearly 30 percent compared to the prior year. Property crimes also dropped. The number of auto thefts was cut by more than half.

“We absolutely crushed that,” the chief said.

The department filled out its ranks and now hits the streets with more than 50 officers.

In October, the department created a special team to go after specific problems including illegal drugs and graffiti. During the first three months, the team arrested nearly 120 people, about a third for felonies.

People have noticed the increased police presence on the streets, Mayor Dennis Kendall said.

“It makes the citizens feel a lot safer knowing there’s more activity from the police out there,” he said.

Before the end of the year, the city hopes to annex the remainder of its urban growth area, Kendall said. That would add another 20,000 people, increasing the population by about a third.

If the annexation is successful, five more police officers would be hired this year and possibly another four by 2011, Smith said.

“We’re going to need to continually evaluate and assess,” he said.

Tough economic times could result in a rise in some property crimes, the chief said. He said he hoped neighbors would continue to watch out for one another and when problems arise, call 911.

“The police department is not solving problems on our own,” Smith said. “We’re doing it with community support. The entire city’s done a great job.”

Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com